I actually finished this jacket over a week ago, but I've just been too busy wearing it every single day that I haven't gotten around to writing it up.
And I think it might just be my favourite jacket I own.
Red cotton twill, tartan brushed cotton lining, no hood but added side seam pockets... This jacket could not be more perfect for Spring if it tried. In fact, for me this is a jacket that pretty much oozes perfection all round: light but still cosy, casual but still elegant (so in love am I with the gathered waistline at back!), supercool oversized collar (I took Lladybird's advice and interlined the collar for added hold-its-shape-ability), colour that goes with just about everything I own (I'm actually starting to notice a red theme in the vast majority of things I make these days... maybe time to reach out to the rest of the spectrum), and just the fact that I've worn it every day since I finished it speaks for itself, I reckon.
The pattern itself was an absolute joy to sew with. I followed Tasia's sew-along, and thank God I did. Parts of the instructions hadn't been so clear to me, so reading through the sew-along posts not only clarified my doubts, but also forced me to slow down my sewing. As a result, I have the most professionally finished piece of clothing I have ever made. This has been something of a revelation to me, as I do have a tendency to speed through my makes, cutting corners (ssssshhhhhh!), and sometimes ending up with pieces that to me are pretty flawed. I have recently seen a vast improvement in my own skills, and this jacket is the cherry on top. So, from now on... improved skills + perfectionist finishing = clothes that even I, my own worst critic, can't find fault with. Clothes that I wear so proudly and joyfully, chiming aloud, "why, thank you, I made it myself!", without needing to worry if they'll notice the untidy lining or the machine stitched hem or the blatant lack of fusible interfacing.
(Confession: I've never even been in the presence of, let alone implemented the use of, fusible interfacing... I just ignore that part. I don't know why it scares me so.)
So in conclusion, this jacket, and my first time sewing a Sewaholic pattern, has been a mega success. Revelations have been had, compliments aplenty have been paid. Now I'm thinking about the Renfrew... and a certain variation on it I'm itching to try!
